Australian Swiftlet
Aerodramus terraereginae
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<birdfyi-bird slug="aerodramus-terraereginae"></birdfyi-bird>About
A small swiftlet (11-12 cm) found in northeastern Australia and the Torres Strait Islands. Grey-brown plumage with a pale rump. Aerial insectivore, foraging over rainforest and woodland. Colonial nester in caves and abandoned mines. Uses echolocation. Australia's only breeding swiftlet.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 22.2 cm | 8.7 in |
| Weight | 11.2 g | 0.40 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Small; dark grey-brown upperparts; pale grey-white rump band; underparts pale greyish; forked tail; Australian cave-nesting endemic using echolocation; closely resembles White-rumped Swiftlet but with narrower paler rump band.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Found in northeastern Australia and New Guinea. Resident in lowland rainforest, forest edge, and open areas. Nests in caves and overhangs.
Diet & Feeding
Aerial insectivore catching tiny flying insects, midges, and airborne spiders in fast low-altitude flight near caves.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: CV. Incubation: 26 days. Fledging: 46-51 days.
Clutch Size
1
Sound
Song
Rapid, chattering 'tsit-tsit'; thin twittering over Queensland coast; audible echolocation clicks in cave roosts; flock produces overlapping calls; only Australian cave-nesting swiftlet
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Apodidae (Swifts) |
| Genus | Aerodramus |
| Species | Aerodramus terraereginae |
Distribution
Australian Swiftlet has been recorded in 1 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Apodidae family